‘RAIN CAUSED COAL SHORTAGE PUSHING UP INT’L PRICES’

NEW DELHI: The Union coal minister Pralhad Joshi on Tuesday said that the shortage of fossil fuel was triggered due to rains causing an increase in its international prices.

In an exclusive interview with ANI, the Union Minister said,“Due to rains, there was coal shortage, causing an increase in international prices- from ₹60 per ton to ₹190 per ton. Subsequently, imported coal power plants are either shut for 15-20 days or producing very less. This put pressure on domestic coal.”

He further explained that imported coal power plants were either shut for 15-20 days or were producing very less, putting pressure on domestic coal.

“We have continued our supply, even continued in the past despite dues. We are requesting them (states) to increase stock...There won’t be a coal shortage,” he assured.

He further stated that on Monday the ministry of coal supplied the highest ever quantity of coal at 1.94 million tons.

Joshi also alleged that when the Centre asked the states to increase the stock of coal they told the government to stop supplying them coal.

“Yesterday we supplied 1.94 million tons, the highest ever supply of domestic coal... As far as states are concerned, this year till June we requested them to increase stock, some of them went on to say that “please do a favour, don’t send coal now,” he said. Earlier on Monday, Union home minister Amit Shah held a high-level meeting with power minister RK Singh, coal minister Prahlad Joshi along with top officials of both the ministries in the North Block.